Obama Evolves, Senator Harry Reid Misteps: Same Sex Marriage Should Be Decided On The State Level

Shortly after President Obama’s historic evolution on his acceptance of same sex marriage became complete. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid also released a statement about same sex marriage. And while his “personal” belief is “that marriage is between a man and a woman” he agrees that loving commited same sex couples should havew the right to marry. But that that decision belongs on state level, not Federal.

For Immediate Release Date:

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

CONTACT:Adam Jentleson, (202) 224-2939

REID STATEMENT ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Washington, D.C. –Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid issued the following statement today following President Obama’s announcement of support for marriage equality. “My personal belief is that marriage is between a man and a woman. But in a civil society, I believe that people should be able to marry whomever they want, and it’s no business of mine if two men or two women want to get married. The idea that allowing two loving, committed people to marry would have any impact on my life, or on my family’s life, always struck me as absurd. “In talking with my children and grandchildren, it has become clear to me they take marriage equality as a given. I have no doubt that their view will carry the future. “I handled a fair amount of domestic relations work when I was a practicing lawyer, and it was all governed by state law. I believe that is the proper place for this issue to be decided as well.”

Reid seems to forget that same sex couples are denied a whole host of benefits government provides to heterosexual married couples and that there are over one thousand federal laws in which marriage status is a factor. Federally recognized marriage. And that the Federal Government does not recognize same sex couples married in LGBT friendly states because of DOMA?

Before Senator Reid issues statements like this to seem hip and wnt to ride Obama’s coattails, perhaps he should think about he is actually saying in his statements

Without Federal recognition, acceptance, and support of same sex marriage and the demise of DOMA, “state by state” same sex marriage is just another case of “separate and not equal”

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Will Kohler is one of America's well known LGBT historians, He is also a a accredited journalist and the owner of Back2Stonewall.com.
A longtime gay activist Will fought on the front lines of the AIDS epidemic with ACT-UP and continues fighting today for LGBT acceptance and full equality.
Will’s work has been referenced in notable media venues as BBC News, CNN, MSNBC, The Washington Post, The Daily Wall Street Journal, Hollywood Reporter, and Raw Story,
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Contact: Will@Back2Stonewall.com